Power-controlling mechanism.



H. A. MYERS. l POWER QONTROLLING MECHvANISM. APPucATloN'rlLEn ocT. 23. 1914.

Patent-ed Jam-4'; 1916'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

...M- www1 Wmme@ uisiTED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE. y'

I HBERT A. MYERS, OF TOLEDO, OHO, ASSIG'NOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALBERT A. ATWOO),

. F TOLEDO, OHIO.

. ling mechanisms.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4., 1916.

Application led October 23, 1914. Serial No. 868,183.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HUBERT A. MYERS,

'Mechanisms, ofv which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to' power control- .This invention has utility when .embodied as a push button controller for shifting the gears to change the speed of motor vehicles.V

Referring to the drawings Figure \1 is a fragmentary side elevation fof an adaptation of the device 'to an internal combustion engine propelled motor vehicle; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the selector plate or push button grouping; Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-IIL Fig. 2; Fig. iis a detailon an enenlarged scale of portions of the selector" and its operative connections 'with the power driven actuator; Fig. 6 is'a View looking from the right toward the selector and actuator of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a. fragmentary View,

'on an enlarged scale of thev selectedshift bar connection to an actuator, the parts bein'gin shifted position, the view being from `.the opposite'side of the actuators from the showing in Fig. 5; Fig.l 8' is a' plan view. of one of the lower guides or keepsretaining `an actuator and shift bar connected when away from neutral or disconnecting posi' tion; and Fig. 9 -is a view on vthe line IX-IX, Fig. 1, showing the connection whereby each push button is effective to opcrate the power driving means simultaneously with the selection action by the vehicle driver, wherebythe simple push button fserves as a remote control device for the variable speed transmission gearing.

The motor vehicle 1 is provided with the motor 2 and has the clutch 3 normally held driving relation by the springs 4. to 'actuate the driving member or shaft 5. Mounted on the after end of the shaft 5 is the pinion 6. Shifting of the collar 7 may bring the opposingjgear wheel 8 into direct or high -speed drivin-g connection with 4the clutch" on the lateral face of the gear 6, While opposite direction shifting of the. gear 8,'"instead of drivingthev shaft 9 at high speedwill drive at second or intermediate starting positions at all times. 2 2, 'normally centered by the springs 23,

speed through the gear 6 meshing with the gear 10 driving the gear 11 now in mesh with the gear 8. Shift-ing of the collar 12 forwardly will bring the gear 13 into mesh with the gear 14 driven through the gear 10, and thus drive the shaft 9at first speed forward or slow. Rearward shifting of the gear 13. will result in transmission from the gear 14, through the gears 15, 16, 13, and rotate the shaft 9 in a reverse direction, for backing the vehicle. V

Mounted in a convenient position for the vehicle driver, as sayon the steering post.

173 .is the selector comprising the housing "1S-for the -pushbuttons 19, in this instance one push button being shown foreach speed 'relation of the transmission'mechanism or variablespeed gearing. Springs 20 urge the` rods 21 upward, and therebytend to keep the push buttons lifted to initial or Theplat'e precludes depression of more than one push button 19 at ai time, for thel openings 24 through the plate 22 are spaced slightly diii'erent. froml the push button spacing. lVith no push button. down, the holes 24: are each sufliciently centralA as to each button 19 so that 'any one may be depressed, shift the plate-22 and snugly pass through its opening 24 to actuate a rod 21, but in so doing each of 'the other. openings 24 is locked off center as-to its push button thereby precluding depression of asecond button19 while one is in action. vEach rod 21 extends to carry at its lower end a rack 25 in mesh with a pinion 26. The R push button 19 has its pinion 26 on the shaft 27 to rock the cam 28, and therebyl Inove a pin.29 againstthe re-v sistance of a spring 30 to thrust its head 29 into the tooth notch 31 of the actuator 32. Depression of the rod 21 by the I push button, will operate its pinion 26 on the' sleeve 33 to rock its cam 34,'for depressing its pin 29 and-thereby engagethe notch 3l inthe actuator 33. The push button S has its pinion 26 on the shaft 35 for rocking the cam 36 to effect engagement ofla head 29 with the lower side of the actu-' ator 32, while push button Hk for high or third speed forward is connected by its pinion 26 through the sleeve 37 to actuate The yoke 39 carrying the heads 29 which may be shifted to engage the actuator 32, is connected to the shift collar 12, while the yoke 40 about the'actuator 33 is connected to the collar 7.l These push button, rack, cam and tooth connections complete the selection for the desired driving relation connection, and simultaneously with this selection operation, these devices serve `as a remote control of driving or power means, in this instance driven from the motor for automatically operating connections completing the gear shift or change of speed. The N push button 19 in its depression Acontacts the angle lever 41 directly, and is provided with no rack 25, on its rod '21. The end of the lever 41 is angular toconform to the positions of the rods 21 extending to the box or ,housing 18, in this instance skewed for convenient mounting on the steering tolumn 1". The rods Q1 for the other push buttons are provided with pins 42, so that in the depression of any push button, simultaneously the angle lever 41 is rocked to move the link 43 forwardly and thereby through the llever 44 set the clutch 45 for driving off the continuously runningv shaft 46 connected by the gear 4l' say to'be driven off the magneto shaft 48.

In the forward travel of the link 43, the spring 49 acting upon the. dog 50 causes it toengage the fixed pin 51, thereby holding the clutch V in '.driving relation. The clutch 45 drives the shaft carrying the worm 53 in mesh with the worm wheel 54 carrying the crank pin engaging in the slot 56 of the lever 5T, oscillated by the rotation of the worm wheel 54 to pull the link 58 forward, and with it the arm 59 fast on the shaft 60 upon which'theactuators 32, 33, are fixed. The disposal of the lever 5T is such that in the downward travel of the pin 55, the travel forward of the link 58 is much more rapid than its return.` It is effective in this forward travel to release the clutch 3, by rocking the shaft 60 and with it the yoke 5, and still have the travel of the engaged yoke 39, 40 quite rapid during the entire forward travel of the link 58,-and even during the first portion of the return or rearward travel of the link 58, the latter portion of the return during the balance of the upperarc of the wheel 54, being slowen Tith this variation in the travel rate, the clutch 3 may be quickly disconnected, the connected gear quickly brought to neutral by the yoke 39 or 40 away from neutral or disconnected position, the coi'npressed spring 30,`

quickly acting to connect up the selected yoke for quick connecting up of the gear selected, and then the slower travel as the clutch 3 is allowed to gradually take hold by the springs 4 acting 4against the retarded travel of thev link 5S. lVhen the lever' 57 approaches completion of its cycle of travel, it

strikes the hinged extension 61 on the dog 50, forcing the dog 50 off the pin 51, so the spring may operate to release the Vclutch 45 from driving position. The extension (32 prevents the dog 50 from fallingtoo low. and the extension 61, being hinged, permits the lever 5T to'v swing forward in starting a second cycle without disconnecting the clutch 45.

The fixed guides 64 upon which ride the yokes 39, 40 have the central openings 65 which permit the heads of the pins '29 to pass through only at neutral position, and the slots GG extending therefrom, preclude disengagement of a connected pin Q9 at other than neutral position, as well as keep a pin Q9 from engaging at other than neutral position, thereby insuring proper connection of the actuators 32, 325 at all times.

Thrusting forward of the clutch pedal loose on the shaft 60, causes it to strike the arm 68, fast on the shaft 60, and not only act'against the resistance ofthe springs -t to release the clutch 3 from driving relation by shifting the yoke 5, but bring any connected gear to neutral or disconnected position, for rocking of the shaft G0 carries with it the actuators 33, and if any gear is shifted, then its yoke 39, 49, is connected to an actuator which will draw such gear to neutral or disconnecting position in this forwward thrusting of the pedal 6T. The slot 69 in the link 58 permits this travel of the actuatoreBQ, 33, independently of the worin drive for the actuators.

ln operation, the clutch pedal (ST is free at all times for operation, and is effective to disconnect the main clutch 3, and follow this action, on the forward stroke, by bringing the yokes 39, 40 to neutral or disconnecting position. Return of the 4clutch pedal by the springs 4 acting from the clutch 3 upon the yoke 5 through the' arm (3S 'will connect the clutch 3, but leave the transmission gearing disconnected ready for the selection and connection of any desired speed independently vof the pedal 67. The first action produced by thrusting the one direction driving relation selector or pedal 67 forward is the release of thev clutch 3. Accordingly,` if the pedal G7 is not pushed forwardfully, al-

though the clutch is released, the driving gear connection is not disturbed, for the actuator' is not moved to disconnecting position and the pin 29 connected up may not be withdrawn by its spring 39, owing to the guide 6G still holding the head of-'the pin :29 in the notch 31 ofthe actuator.

Independently of anyiattention to the pedal (ST, the speed maybe changed to neug tral or any driving relation., merely bv de-A pressing the push button 19 for the selected driving relation.

Depression of a push button 19, first brings the opening 24 for the depressed but-- ton in the plate 22 central of such depressed button, thus at once automatically locking out all of the other buttons 19. lVere an initial effort made to depress more than one button, neither would go down, as each would lock the other from passing the' plate 22. In passing through the opening 24 in the plate '-22, the push button 19 acts upon its rod 21 against the action of a compression spring 20, and in the continued travel directly,actuates a rack 25 to bring the selected cam to force toward an actuator. one of the pins 29. The push button 19 should be held depressed until the spring 30 may thrust the head 29 through the opening 65 into the notch 31. As soon as the actuator has rocked away from neutral position sufficiently for the slot 66 to retain the head 29" from withdrawal from the notch 31, the push button 19 may be released. This time interval in depressmg the push button may be of short duration, for at once upon the depression of the button, the lever 41 is rocked, to cause the link 43 through the lever 44 to vplace the clutch 45 in driving relation as to the worm 53 actuating the worm wheel 54 carrying, the wrist pin 55 coacting in the slot 56 to quickly shift the lever 57 and with it the link .58 to pull the arm 59 forward, and with it the shaft 60 having the yoke 5 efl'ective in releasing the clutch 3,

against the resistance of the springs 4. The a1'm'-59, in its further travel, actuates thesha'f't 60 to complete the pull to neutral of any shifted actuator. The spring 30 at once brings the head 29 outy of the notch 31 and through the notch 65, the selected head 29 being vsimultaneously thrust through a notch 65 in a plate 64 into engaging position with a. notch 31 in an actuator and the shifting of the gears maybe started. The pin is now passing through its longer radius position as to the lever 57, and there is consequently slower travel in the return movement of the link 58 allowing the clutch 3 to take hold again. At this completion of the cycle of travel of the lever 57, it knocks the dog 50 off the pin 51, and the now idle driving worm 53 locks the link 58 against travel. The springs 4 hold the actuators in shifted position, and slots 66 preclude disengagement away from neutral.

Vhat is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. Mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations, driving means for effecting a complete change from a driving relation of the mechanism' to another, separate selectors for different driving relations, and a selector controlled device co-acting with the driving meansfor bringing about action of the driving means to effect the selector determined driving relation of the tion of the mechanism.

2. Mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations, power means for effecting a complete change from a driving relation to disconnecting relationl and back to driving relation, a device forconnecting the power means to effect a complete change in the driving relation of the mechanism, and a one direction manually actuated driving relation selector in itself .determining the change selectionandeffecting the device and power means operation.

3. Mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations, driving means for effecting thev changes to different driving relations of the mechanism, a device for con'- necting the driving means to eect a driving relation of the mechanism, driving relation selectors for controlling the device, and means precluding a second selection until the first selection is effected.

4. Mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations, a push button selectortablishing a plurality of driving relations,vv

and a mechanical remote control device therefor embodying a one motion selector and driving means actuated by the one motion selector for .disestablishing and establishing a driving relation.

7. Mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations, and a remote control device therefor embodying a push button selector yand driving means for disestablishing and establishing driving relations for the mechanism, said means actuable by a push button of the selector.

8. A" driving member, a driven member,

.mechanism-for establishing a plurality yof driving relations therebetween, and dual independently movable means for bringing the mechanism to disconnecting position, including a disconnecting clutch between the members operable with each of said means.

y9. A driving member, a driven member,

mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations therebetween, two independently movable means for bringing the mechanism to disconnecting position, one of whichA means having connections for bringing the mechanism to a kdriving relation position, and a disconnectingclutch between the members coacting 4with said means to be 0perable with either thereof.

10.l A driving member, a driven member,

mechanism for establishinga plurality of driving relations therebetween, a, clutch between lthe members, a single motion remote control device for bringing the mechanism to able wit'h said clutch at any time to bring the mechanism to disconnecting position.

11. Mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations for a motor vehicle elnbodying a clutch pedal, a power device, and a remote control device to connect the power device for different actuations 'of the mechanism effective independently of the pedal.

12. Mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations for a motor vehicle embodying a clutchpedal, a push button device for changing the driving relations of the mechanism independently ofthe pedal and a power device controlled by the push button device for effecting different driving relations.

13. A driving member, va driven member,

mechanism Vfor establishing aplurality of driving relations therebetween, a clutch betweenv the members, driving means for dis- Vconnecting theclutch and for effecting a complete change from a'driving relation of the mechanism to another, a selector` for a driving relation, and a selector controlled device' connecting the driving means for bringing about action of the driving means to eii'ect clutch disconnection and the selector determined driving relation of the mechanism from the previous driving relation of the mechanism.

14. A driving member, a driven member, av clutch-therebetween, mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations, said mechanism disposed between the clutch and driven member, and a'driving relation selector in itself determining the driving relation selection and provided with connections etvfecting the clutch and mechanism operations.

15. A driving member, a driven member, mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations therebetween, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting one of the members, power means for eii'ecting a complete change from a driving relation to dis- -connecting relation and back to driving relation, connections from the power means to control the clutch, a device for connecting the power means to eii'ect a complete change in the driving relation of the mechanism, and a driving relation selector in itself determining the driving relation selection and etfectingthe de\f'ice,clutch and power means operation.

1G. A driving member, a driven member, mechanism forestablishing a plurality, of driving relations therebetween, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting one of the members, separate selectors for the different driving relations, and connections from the selector,determining the driving relation selection and effecting mechanism and clutch operation.

1T. A driving-member, a driven member, mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations therebetween, a clutch .tor connecting and disconnecting one of the members, and a push button provided with connections for operating the clutch and mechanism.

18. A driving member, a driven member, mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations therebetween, a clutch for connecting and .disconnecting one of the 'members and a driving relation selecting controller provided with connections for operating the clutch and mechanism.

19. A driving member, a driven member, mechanism for establishing a plurality of driving relations therebetween, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting one of the members, and a driving relation selecting controller provided with connections for simultaneously operating the clutch' and mechanism.

20. A driving member, a driven member, mechanism for establishing a plurality ot driving relations therebetween, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting one ot' the members, a driving relation selecting controller, and connections actuable in a single movement of the controller for operating` the clutch and mechanism.

In testimony whereof I atiix my `signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HUBERT A. MYERS.

Vitnesses:

Gmo. E. KIRK, C. H. RAUcI-r.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. l

It is hereby certified. tha-tt in Letters Patent N o. 1,167,101, granted January 4, v1916, upon the application of Hubert A. Myers, of Toledo, Ohio, for an improvement in Power-Controlled Mechanisms, en errjor appears in the print-ed specification requiring correction as foilovvnsf:V Page 3, .line 89,*e1afim 4, strike out the Word ehange; and that the Seidl-letters Patent should be read with this cord rection therein that the seme may conforml to the record of the ease in the Patentv Office. n i Signed and sealed this 25th day of J anuary,`A. D., v1916.

[SEAL] R. F. WHITEHEAD, 

